FOREVER KNIGHTS: #17 Marked As Mine

Isle of Wight

LUCIEN

As they made their way through the woods, the trees grew so close that they had to dismount and lead the horses.

“I don’t remember it being this tight when I came through?”

“The knights veered you further East so you wouldn’t enter this area.”

“Why?”

“It’s more crushing and because of that.” He gestured to a massive abandoned mansion.

Mera’s eyes widened on it. “It’s breathtaking.”

“It was once.” Lucien gave her a quick look. “Now it’s just a rundown structure for knaves to gather and thieves to harbor.”

“Look at it!” She exclaimed. “The structure is still solid, the shutters still good.” She veered toward it. “I’m sure the inside of it is awful but if the trees were groomed back and it were to be fully staffed, I’m sure it could be salvaged into something beautiful.”

Lucien followed her on heavy feet. Stepping over the piles of burnt wood and crushed tables and ducking to make it in the door. “Careful.”

She was already darting from one side to the other of the open foyer. “If this wall was taken out here.” She leaned on it. “It’s not structural. It could be very open forum. Beautiful!”

“Since when do you know so much about houses?”

“I’ve studied architecture. Sketches designing homes has always been a hobby of mine.”

He trailed after her. “Could you be more odd, My Dear?”

“Likely.” She tossed over her shoulder. “Look at this arc over the stairs. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“I thought it was”

His strange wording drew her attention and she turned slowly to look at him.

“Do you know this house, My Lord Sabias?”

“I did once. Come,” He waved for her to follow. “best we get out of here before villains arrive.”

“You’re not afraid of villains.” She glared at his back.

He could feel the heat of it. “No.”

“You just don’t want to be here.”

“I do not.” He confirmed. Ducking back through the door.

“Why not?” She asked.

“Because it’s too painful.” He said harshly. Rounding and offering her a hand over the wood blocking the entrance.

As typical, she disregarded and lifted her skirts to climb atop it. Hopping down of her own accord. Following him doggedly she blurted out. “What was that house, Sabia

“It’s personal.”

“So, you won’t tell me?”

“Lady Carter!” He roared. Rounding on her. But to his surprise, she didn’t shrink away.

She looked angry in response. “Is this the house you built for your sister? The house she was murdered going home to?”

He sighed heavily. Shoulders slumping. “Let us speak of it later?”

She nodded. Despite the anger on her face she reached up and squeezed his shoulder in a way that was nearly reassuring.

She’s a contradictory little thing.

A few hours found them making their way too an inn called the Hideaway. They were partaking of simple fare of roasted birds

“No vegetables?” She queried off-handedly.

“No.” He bit int a piece of meat. “It’s too far out to get goods shipped in. The fare is usually what the innkeeper can hunt out the previous day.

Mera nodded as she bit into a piece of well-roasted meat. “They’re really quite good.

“Agreed.”

“Tell me of the house now?”

His gaze zeroed in on her. Lurching forward, he thudded his elbows to the table between them. “What would I get in return?”

“I know not.”

He gave a grudging tilt of his head. “But you will give me something in return?”

“Not of an intimate nature.”

He gave a shrug. “Fine then. Yes, it was the home I built for her. Centuries ago.”

“What?” Her brows snapped together.

“One night she and I had a vicious row. And I left to cool down. Leaving her with the servants and the Huntsman.”

Meralee was quiet a moment as she pondered this. “Did she understand the risks of Ardae?”

He laughed. “She was only learning of it. It was the Dread I’d found that taught me why the Isle was unique. It floats both amidst the waters of the UpperLands and the waters of Ardae. Those who sail West are never seen again by the people of the UpperLands. Thought to fall off the edge of the world. Those that sail East of the island are never seen again by the people of Ardae. Thought to be taken by Dread magic. So as far as I know people are lost to worlds they never know when they travel the wrong direction from the Isle. It’s why it is considered the vanishing island. When it drifts further into the waters of the UpperLand it becomes impossible to locate by Ardae sailors. Fortunately it has been wandering further into our waters instead over the last hundred years.”

“I knew none of that!” She blinked at him in shock.

“Most don’t.”

“I know very little of the UpperLands other then what’s been taught at the Tutelage. It’s strange to think there’s a whole other world up there, I’ve never seen or heard of…A world you came from…It’s all very complicated.”

“Well you’re a complicated woman. I’m certain you’ll wrap your clever mind around it.” He shrugged. Taking a deep drink.

“I can’t tell if that’s a compliment.”

“It is. Nothing is more appealing then a clever woman.”

“That so?” She leaned across the table.

“Affirmatively.” He leaned to meet her. Eying her thoughtfully but refraining from touching her. “So, what should I do now? I caught you, cornered you, now I’m expected to wed a woman that doesn’t have any wish to be my espoused.”

“I do not.” She nodded. “And if you try to force me, I’ll fight you beyond your most grave nightmare.”

That is probably true.

“But on this Isle it wouldn’t matter what you said…” He smiled sinisterly over his drink. “If I told the villagers I wanted you, they’d have you readied by morning.”

“They might die trying.”

She likely means that.

“And so, you see,” He said in a honeyed tone. “We are at an impasse.”

“So, we are…”

“Thus, my alternative is to keep you with me until something changes.”

“Like what?”

Your desire to wed me.

“My Captain’s mind.” He suggested.

That’ll never happen. Once he’s come to a decision, he’ll not renege on it.

“How often does that change?”

“Never has yet.”

Gnawing her cheek, she opted to change the subject. “If you built it for your sister, why’d you let it fall to ruin? It seems terribly irresponsible.”

He scoffed. “A woman in skirts who runs wildly through the woods, brandishing weapons and accosting men on the road, dares lecture me about irresponsibility?”

“Quite a different matter.” She pointed out. “I was defending myself.”

He swatted her finger down. “It most certainly is not. It’s a dangerous gambit you’ve run.” He pointed his finger at her.

She swatted his finger down pointedly. “You’re evading the topic.”

“You’re far too fair of face to be so clever.” He glowered at her.

“Yet I am, nonetheless. Why’d you let your gorgeous home fall to ruin?”

“My sister.” He sighed.

She gave him a questioning look.

“Ezra. After we’d fought and I’d left Radix had sent in a flock of cimmerii after her. The Huntsman tried to fight them off. But he was unmatched.”

“So, what did you do?” She pushed her drink aside. Listening with interest.

“I slaughtered every Cimmerii on the island. And vowed to protect all of her friends and their descendants. She was well loved on the Isle.” He said raggedly.

“So now you protect it. As The Fogdragon.” She said. “But how?” She reared back. “Are you a Dread?”

“Me?” He laughed. Shaking his head. “No.”

She eyed him askance before filling in. “They killed your sister so you couldn’t bear to save the house?”

Just didn’t care to anymore. What was the point?

“She was killed in that house.”

“Did you bury her?” Mera asked.

Mighty quick with the painful questions.

“Of course, I did. I’m not an animal!” He grunted.

“Then you fear she haunts the house?”

It’s that I wasn’t there that haunts me.

“My memories haunt that house.” He barely slid his mug aside before a barmaid materialized to refill it.

“They treat you like a king.”

“And you’ve the chance of being my queen.” He lifted his tankard cheekily.

“Nay.” She shook her head adamantly. “But I may stay awhile, as you’ve so courteously asked...”

He grunted in humor. I told her she’d have to stay until something changed. A less than courteous request.

“You’re staying either way.” He took a long dram.

“Willingly.”

He lowered the mug. Lifting an intrigued vow. “How so?”

The innkeeper scurried up to Lucien with a missive.

Lucien opened it, eyes scanning the page before he groaned.

“What is it?”

“Our guests won’t be arriving for a long while.”

“Perfect.” Mera purred. Sitting back in satisfaction.

“What are you about.”

“A negotiation.”

“For?” He lifted a slashing dark brow.

“You repair the House. And I will stay on the Isle with you.”

“Sabias House?”

“Is that what it’s called?”

“Yes.”

“Then of course I meant Sabias House. Surely not the hut in the village.” She said sarcastically.

“Charming chit.” Sabias’ head lowered in warning.

“Is it a deal?” She offered her hand.

Not so fast.

“You’ll stay-willingly…If I repair Sabias House…And not try to escape?” He eyed her hovering hand.

“Yes.”

“Why?” His curiosity drove him to query.

“Because everyone’s family means something to them. And it sounds as though yours deserves to be honored. Just because you’re a jackanape doesn’t mean you didn’t love your sister.”

“I did.” He said wistfully. After a long study, he reached to clasp his big hand around hers, turning it to plant a kiss to the back.

She jerked away as if burned.

He let her.

“If you help me…” He added as an afterthought. Bent on persuading her to spend time with him.

Yet again, she surprised him by responding quickly. “I intended to.”

Well, perhaps this suffices as a chance to get close to her. She can see how charming I really am.

I’ll take it. His eyes flicked over her.

She drew a lazy finger over the mouth of her mug thoughtfully.

What an odd woman...

The next morning found them and a village hand, Lucien had hired, staring up at the formidable appearance of Sabias House.

And it’s worn out state. Even from outside Sabias could smell the odor of horses having been stabled in the house.

And inside they found old burn piles where bandits had built campfires on the abandoned floor of the structure.

Why does she want to do this?

She looked somewhat excited by taking on the prospect. She’d taken a pair of fabric gloves he’d bought with one of her fancy dresses and pulled them up to her elbow.

Prepared to clean in them. As good a means as any. He supposed.

As reluctant as Lucien was to be here, he couldn’t disregard the fact that he was deeply touched she’d proposed restoring it.

Just being this close he could hear Ezra’s bubbling laughter echoing through the halls. See glimpses of her as a young girl running across the wooden floor. Brown hair flying out in a banner of her joy.

It made it hard to think and he was unsure where to start.

“We’ll begin moving the burnt wood outside and over there.” She pointed out the door.

“Would you,” She looked at the village man. “go hire a cart that we can use to move the rubbish?”

The man looked at Lucien who nodded in assent.

“Any salvageable furniture let’s move to this corner.” She continued explaining where everything would be piled so they could sort the house from the filth.

But Lucien had begun watching her. How her face brightened as she took charge. Comfortable running a household.

She explained a plan and made sure he understood it. But he was distracted by the smooth motion of her shining brown hair swinging as she spoke. Her delicate gloved hand waving as she gestured. Her mahogany eyes flitting. Bright with excitement. All traces of her venom gone as she formulated a plan.

So decisive. As regal as a queen. And he realized he did want her. I want her for my mate.

So now, the task became charming her into feeling the same.

It may take awhile. He thought ruefully.

But his ideas of how regal she was were vanquished in a matter of hours. He groaned. “You’re a veritable Slave Driver, cruel, cruel woman.”

“Cease whining. We’re making headway.”

“You’re positively ruthless.”

She laughed. “You sound like a child upset at having to clean up his toys.”

“I probably feel equal derision.” He sniffed.

She walked over and tugged his arm. Turning him to face her. Seeing dirt smudging his cheeks and sweat marking his brow. “You look well, covered in signs of hard labor.”

“I don’t feel it.” He sniffed before confiding. “And you smell like horse piss.”

She beamed. “The aroma of hard work.” She tossed her arms. “Isn’t it rewarding.”

Her movement drew his eye to the low cut of her dark dress. “Here, Lord Sabias.” She pointed to her face. “You seem to have that problem often.”

“Only with you.” He grinned cheekily.

“Mmmhmm.” She grunted. Swinging around to resume cleaning. She hefted a large board and he stepped to take the other end. Stepping over the jumbled piles to throw it in the back of the cart with the rest of the ‘rubbish.’

When he went to lift a table she chipped in and helped him as well. And he allowed her. Touched by the help. Despite that I could’ve easily moved it by myself.

“We do well as a team.” He remarked.

“I wouldn’t argue that.”

He laughed. “The closest you can get to agreeing to companionship with me.”

“So far.” She lifted an alluring brow. Lips curving into a soft smile.

I like the look of that.